A DEMU train caught fire early on Monday morning at Simri Bakhtiyarpur railway station in Bihar's Saharsa district, triggering panic among passengers and railway staff. The blaze spread so rapidly that the engine, along with an attached coach, was completely gutted. Passengers travelling in the train's other coaches jumped off to save themselves, though there is relief that no casualties were reported in the incident.

Fire started with smoke, engine soon engulfed in flames

According to local residents, the Samastipur-Saharsa DEMU train (63344) arrived at Platform Number 2 of Simri Bakhtiyarpur station at around 3.44 am on Monday. Shortly after the train came to a halt, smoke began billowing from the engine. Initially, people assumed it was a routine technical fault, but the smoke quickly turned into a raging fire. According to eyewitnesses, the flames were so intense that they engulfed not just the engine but also an attached coach, which was completely burnt to ashes. As soon as the incident was reported, railway staff alerted senior officials and launched firefighting efforts. As a precaution, Platform Number 2 was evacuated and security was stepped up across the station premises.

Fire brought under control after two-hour effort

Several fire engines and a team from the fire department rushed to the spot to tackle the blaze. After nearly two hours of sustained effort, the fire was brought under control. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Officials suspect a technical fault or a short circuit as the likely cause, though the actual reason will only be confirmed once the investigation is complete. Train operations were disrupted for some time as a result of the incident. Railway authorities said the precise cause of the fire would be disclosed once the investigation report is submitted. Officials are currently assessing the full extent of the damage caused by the blaze.